27 July 2025 at 20:00

Patrice Keegan

Ami Hewitt (soprano)

Paul Kiernan (trumpet)

Patrice Keegan began her studies with Una Russell at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, graduating with honours in 2006. She was concurrently, for three years, organ scholar of Trinity College. Following her degree, she
took up the position of organ scholar of St Patrick's Cathedral for a further two years. She completed a masters degree in 2009, studying with Una Russell and Margaret Phillips, and a doctoral degree in 2021 with David Adams. Some career highlights include the Jan Kucharski organ competition, the release of the album Les Angélus with Niamh McCormack, an appearance on the album Potboilers, Pastiches and Party Pieces, and the Irish premiere of Patrick Cassidy’s The Mass for choir and organ. Patrice has performed in organ series throughout the country, most recently as part of a duo alongside Dr Carole O’Connor, premiering the Sestetto for organ duet by Andrew Johnstone. Patrice currently teaches organ at St. Columba’s College as well as accompanying numerous Dublin choirs. She is resident organist in Holy Cross Church, Dundrum.

Ami Hewitt is a soprano from Dublin, Ireland. Her recent operatic roles include Elvira in L’Italiana in Algeri (Rossini) and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi (Puccini) at Wexford Festival Opera, The Controller in Flight (Dove) with Opera Collective Ireland, Sophie in Lyric Opera Ireland’s production of Werther, and Kitty in Retrospect opera's recording of Stanford's Shamus O'Brien with the orchestra of Scottish opera. Ami was one of the artists in ‘Musique: one longue histoire d’amour’, a touring concert throughout France with Opera for Peace. Oratorio solos include Handel's Messiah, Haydn’s Seven Last Words, Faure’s Requiem, and Vivaldi's Gloria. Ami was a studio member with INO, a young artist with Wexford festival opera, and a member of the young singer’s collective with Le Foyer des Artistes. Ami's next performance will be of Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Britten) at Blackwater Valley Opera Festival.

Paul Kiernan is a trumpet player and arranger from Mullingar. He obtained a bachelor of Music Performance from the Conservatory of Music and Drama in Dublin before moving to the Conservatorium Van Amsterdam to study Jazz performance. Paul joined the Defense Forces School of Music in 2021 and is currently based in Band 2 Brigade in Costume Barracks, Athlone. In the past year, Paul has finished a Master's in arranging and trumpet performance through the Royal Irish Academy of Music, working closely with Brian Byrne, Colm Byrne, and David Collins as his mentors. In 2024, Paul was the featured soloist at the Defence Forces Gala Concert in the National Concert Hall. Paul has performed with the RTE Concert Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Irish National Opera Orchestra. He co-founded Booka Brass, who performed National and International tours, and collaborated with many prominent artists including James Vincent McMorrow, Glen Hansard, Imelda May, Tony Visconti, Lisa Hannigan, and many more. Paul is also a sought-after freelance musician and has recorded and toured with many established and up-and-coming artists, such as Zaska, Denise Chaila, Melina Malone, Hudson Taylor, Kíla, and the Coronas.